Oftentimes, you'll hear me quip about the varied stories rugs can tell us. This antique has stories to share about the person who hooked it, who the rug was for, and a special year. Does the year tell us when the rug was made, is it a wedding day, or an anniversary? So I had a little fun and wrote a short verse about what the rug tells me. XOXO

​One of the greatest resources open to rug-hookers is mentoring. An equitable relationship where one mentors another, and then one day hopefully, the mentee becomes the mentor to another.

There is no fee for services, just sage advice and guidance to teach another person methods and techniques in rug-hooking.

The art of rug-hooking is dominated mainly by women, although there are many remarkable men rug-hookers. But the majority of hookers are women. So it stands to reason that as sisters in rug-hooking we should train, mentor, guide one another.

**If you want to trade, message me on Facebook for an invitation (https://www.facebook.com/AspenrughookingCompany/). It's a lot of fun. It's brand new, so plenty of room to grow. **Do you enjoy spinning wool, carding fiber, woodworking, finishing rugs or rug edges? Maybe you have overstocked wool of a certain color and want to trade it for another color? Maybe you want a certain dye, and can trade for other dyes? You can even trade eggs for wool if you raise hens. Maybe you know a baker and you can barter baked goods for rug-hooking goods. This can be a fun place for you to trade.Wool 'n Hook is a trading post for people who want to trade supplies, materials, farm goods, food, artwork, or services. This private club is by invitation only. Who can join? If you know someone who is interested in bartering and is respectful and trustworthy, they are welcome to join. This service is free, so connect with one another and trade your goods and services.Simple Trading Rules:1. Courtesy is Queen.2. When a barter does not interest you, politely decline.3. If you are undecided about a barter, it may be best to decline because you may end up in a transaction that you will regret. When you agree to an exchange of goods, you are expected to follow through with the trade, even if it has not been fully executed. When your experience turns sour, contact Maggie Bathory who is the moderator to mediate the trade.4. Post what you want to trade to the group or privately message members.5. Barter anything. Eggs, rugs, baked goods, wool, hooking frames, picture frames, finished work, paint, ribbons, magazines, books, photographers, advertisers, jewelers, realtors, home decorators, architects, massage therapists, hair or nail salons, well you get the idea.6. Barter locally or ship around the world. When shipping is involved, the recipient should pay for shipping, unless both parties make another suitable agreement.

Being an urban farm girl, holding down a day job, raising an amazing teen, and a loving lab, and cuddly cat, making the time to create takes deliberate actions. Having peace around me that allows me to thrive my creativity, is even more challenging. However, my intentions are strong and active to make the time to hook rugs. XOXO